As We Walk

Evolution, like bureaucracy, moves slowly…

unseen and unfelt until archaeologists discover 

where we have been ~ certain of the existence of the past; 

gently brushing away sand and pebbles 

to witness the shards and remnants 

of once vibrant living cultures

protected by Mother Earth ’til

revealing them to us as we walk.

“Are we being good ancestors?”

 ~ Jonas Salk

Metaphorizing

Mountains and molehills, 

intricate creations of Mother Earth ~ guides for committing to progress.

Grand snow capped mountains rise high into the sky. 

On the horizon ~ a textured screening for rise or set of the sun, rays filtering through the peaks, valleys and forests. 

Humble molehills left behind by earth-dwelling moles are at our feet ~ mounds of earth from digging deep tunnels while eating insects and grubs, damaging our perfect lawns and gardens with their burrowing.

For my eyes to see possibility and grandeur

on a horizon at the end of a chosen path

fills me with dreams and hope for more adventure

For my feet to stumble on a humble molehill,

if only gazing dreamily at the grand mountains

I may just be brought suddenly down to earth!

“Men trip not on mountains, they trip on molehills.”

~ Chinese Proverb

Joyful Purpose

Garry Oak trees velveted in moss new and old.
Blue and white flowers strewn and sprinkled through grasses.
Joyous expression from Mother Earth spreading her charms!

“Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s party!’

~ Robin Williams

When is it Time?

When is it time?

On the clock or the dot

In a moment or second

For you or for me

When is it time?

If the moon is full

If planets align

For cities and towns and dear Mother Earth

When is it time?

In a day or a week

At month’s end or turn of the year

for making changes that matter.

When is it time?

Now would be good

For you and for me and for all of us ~

Mother Earth, the moon and the stars won’t wait.

“They always say time changes things, 

but you actually have to change them yourself.”

~ Andy Warhol, 

The Philosophy of Andy Warhol

Respecting our Elder

So the old girl’s tired, is she?  

Rode hard and put up wet one too many times?

She needs some rest and recuperation for a bit.

We don’t always know how dependent we are on her.

Our very lives are made possible with her 
gifts of land, water and sky.

We seem to have made a slave of Mother Earth, 

always asking for  more than we need.

When she is aging, with aches and pains of her own,

do we honour 

her gifts and her sacrifice

relax our greed and our grip?

We are allowed to put 

our homes and our businesses,

our schools, and our highways

our churches and our governments

wherever we choose,

Why are our wants and needs greater 

than the well being of the host that we reside upon?

“....What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live

 without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.”

~ Evo Marcos

Moving with the Weather - Chapter Three

There was a time when, 

powerful animal species

all the fish and fowl of the sea and air

vied with us for our very survival.

With no defenses save our own wits

and truly at a grassroots level

whether cold and wet

or arid and hot

we discovered

fire

weapons

tools

hunted and gathered food

planting from seeds offered us from thriving plants.

sheltering where we could.

We have continued to discover new

tools

weapons

sources of warmth and heat

developing more conveniences

building more advanced shelters

refining what we think would make a better life

for ourselves

our families and

the next generations

for tomorrow.

But for today

how does what we do in

the here and now

connect us to the planet that

so generously provides us with raw material for all of these things?

On a misty cool morning

am I grateful or am I annoyed

about possible discomfort or

a change of plans

I’ll confess

I am often at first annoyed.

Where is sunshine and dry air

so I can have a pretty easy time of it

I won’t have to get

wet and muddy 

or feel cold

On this cool, moist morning

my son and I went to a wonderful Farmer’s Market

where all manner of 

bedding plants (herbs, vegetables, flowers)

organically grown chicken, eggs, and beef

hand made garments and baked goods 

grown by local farmers and brought to the city

were available for all to purchase

Humankind chips and chops away at Mother Earth.

However, this morning at this Farmer's Market, 

I saw and felt something different ~ at a grassroots level.

There are many individuals of humankind who

respect and work with our planet's generosity.

“Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it. Whatever 

we do to the we, we do to ourselves.  All 

things are bound together. All things connect.”

 - Chief Seattle, 1854